Monthly Archives: December 2014

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Robert O’Brien issued the preliminary injunction against Nestdrop on Tuesday, more than a year after City Attorney Mike Feuer first filed a complaint accusing the business of violating a voter-approved ballot measure that banned medical marijuana delivery services in Los Angeles. Proposition D, which was approved last year, limited the number of storefront dispensaries and explicitly banned delivery services, Feuer said. Nestdrop, which connects medical marijuana patients with dispensaries, said in a statement that it provides an important service and would continue to facilitate pot delivery in other cities. The service also facilitates the home delivery of alcohol, which will continue. “We are evaluating our options for the future in regards to Los Angeles and hope the city will change its misguided attempt at restricting medicine for patients,” Nick Valente, a senior account executive at the company, said in an emailed statement. When it launched earlier this year, Nestdrop’s creators marketed the application as the nation’s first app-based, on-demand medical marijuana delivery service. Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.abc2news.com/news/state/judge-shuts-down-medical-marijuana-delivery-app_94568757_

smartphone application for ordering the delivery of medical marijuana was ordered to stop its service in Los Angeles by a California state court. Nestdrop LLC , which in October expanded its alcohol-delivery app to include medical marijuana, cant facilitate the delivery of the drug in Los Angeles while it defends a lawsuit by the city, Superior Court Judge Robert OBrien said in a ruling today. City Attorney Mike Feuer this month sued Nestdrop, saying its app violates voter-approved restrictions of the sale of medical marijuana. The city is also seeking civil penalties for violations of the restrictions and unfair business practices. Todays ruling does not stop the delivery of medical marijuana in Los Angeles by the dozens of delivery services in the city, Nestdrop co-founder Michael Pycher said in a statement. It only restricts Nestdrop from communicating information between a patient and a dispensary. The company said its evaluating options in Los Angeles and will continue its service outside the city. Los Angeles voters approved a ballot measure known as Proposition D last year to reduce to 135 the number of dispensaries. Feuer said in a statement that in 17 months hes closed 408 dispensaries, half of those operating. This app is a flagrant attempt to circumvent the will of the voters who passed Prop D, Feuer said in the statement. Nestdrop said in its statement that the delivery services actually minimize the need for storefront dispensaries in residential areas. The company said it doesnt grow or deliver marijuana but uses qualified partners for those activities. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-23/medical-marijuana-delivery-app-halted-in-los-angeles.html

“Inhaled vaporized marijuana is both more effective and preferred by patients than smoked marijuana,” said Terence O’Leary , deputy secretary for public safety. Registered businesses will at first be allowed to produce up to five strains of medical marijuana, and those will be subject to independent testing to ensure consistency in chemical content. Some advocates have expressed concern that New York’s regulations will be excessively restrictive. “You don’t want a situation where patients don’t get access or industry groups are unwilling to operate because of the narrowness of the regulatory environment,” said Gabriel Sayegh of the Drug Policy Alliance . Sayegh’s group was pleased, however, that the regulations include assistance for low-income people. The drug is not expected to be covered by private insurance companies, O’Leary said. Companies will have to provide the state Health Department with blueprints of every aspect of their proposed operations from infrastructure to projected revenue when they apply to launch dispensaries. Five registered organizations will be selected and each will be allowed to operate up to four dispensaries. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/N-Y-issues-draft-rules-for-medical-marijuana-5966780.php

Last year, lawmakers authorized $10 million from reserves for “objective scientific research regarding the efficacy of marijuana and its component parts as part of medical treatment.” Colorado received 57 applications for research grants. An advisory board whittled those to eight proposals totaling $7.6 million. The Board will be asked to authorize the spending of up to $8.4 million. The money comes from fees paid by medical marijuana patients to get a “red card,” or authorization to possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana. One of the researchers poised to study marijuana and PTSD called the Colorado awards groundbreaking because the state is providing money without federal red tape. “The opportunity in Colorado is an amazing one,” said Marcel Bonn-Miller, a psychiatrist with the University of Pennsylvania who leads the Substance Abuse and Anxiety Program for the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department. (The VA is not participating directly in his marijuana studies.) Colorado has about 117,000 medical marijuana patients who pay $15 a year to be on the registry. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/marijuana-research-projects-state-funding-27656480

The Associated Press isn’t naming the woman to protect the identities of the children. The AP left a message seeking comment Wednesday from her lawyer. Wexford County Prosecutor Anthony Badovinac tells the Cadillac News that the woman gave marijuana to the 10-year-old boy to help with emotional issues and to the 12-year-old to treat attention deficit disorder. Badovinac says the woman indicated she preferred that to prescribed pills. Badovinac says police became involved after the woman told a Child Protective Services worker that she gave her children marijuana. The drug charge is punishable by up to 4 years in prison and the child-abuse charge carries up to 2 years in prison or 5 years of probation. Michigan voters approved marijuana use for some chronic medical conditions in 2008. Under state guidelines, emotional issues and ADHD aren’t qualifying conditions for medical marijuana use. Minors can get permission to use medical marijuana, but they must have a qualifying condition and meet other rules. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.startribune.com/nation/286110061.html

Schochet said charges of felony distribution would be handled by the King County prosecutors office. Dan Donohoe, a spokesman for the prosecutors office, said it hadnt received any cases against marijuana-delivery services. Oscar Velasco-Schmitz said he was pleased the mayors office was taking action against delivery operations. Velasco-Schmitz owns a Seattle-area recreational-pot store and sits on the board of a medical dispensary. He said delivery undercuts both types of business. They dont have the overhead of a storefront, said Velasco-Schmitz. They dont have a staff. Im assuming theres no taxation of these businesses. Theres no oversight, he said. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.norwalkreflector.com/article/5793276

There have been expectations that Health Canada would review, inspect and finalize applications by end of year and start approving applicants early into the new year (2015). Easton Pharmaceuticals has received a full financing commitment through an accredited private Canadian investor, contingent on receiving an MMPR license. In addition a second investor option from a New York based accredited investor have provided Easton with a commitment for up to $5,000,000 in financing who have previously financed the company in the amount of $1,000,000 . Easton Pharmaceuticals is striving to become not just another player in the industry but a potent company that will deliver a great value proposition to its shareholders and partners. About Easton Pharmaceuticals Easton Pharmaceuticals is a specialty pharmaceutical company involved in various pharmaceutical sectors and others industries such as medical marijuana. The Company previously owned an FDA approved wound healing drug and currently owns topically-delivered drugs and therapeutic / cosmetic healthcare products focused on cancer and other health issues geared towards female sexual dysfunction, wound healing, pain, motion sickness and other conditions that are all in various stages of development. The company has ventured into the potentially lucrative medical marijuana industry through an investment into AMFIL Technologies and their groZONE anti-bacterial system and the exclusive option to purchase up to 50% in a medical marijuana grow-op business / facility which has received a letter to build from Health Canada. The company’s gel formulation is thought to be an innovative and unique transdermal delivery system that can in the future be adaptable in the delivery of Cannabidiol extracts. For More Information Visit: http://www.eastonpharmaceuticalsinc.com Safe Harbor This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (The “Act”). In particular, when used in the preceding of discussion, the words “hope”, “anticipate,” “pleased,” “plan,” “confident that,” “believe,” “expect,” “possible” or “intent to” and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Act. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://finance.yahoo.com/news/easton-pharmaceuticals-finalizes-forwards-2013-140000280.html

The potential success of reciprocity in Nevada is staggering considering that states booming tourism industry. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority estimates that nearly 40 million people visit the city annually , while Nevada boasts by far the most hotel rooms per capita in the United States. With scores of new tourists entering the state daily, this new provision affords anyone with a medical cannabis card or recommendation the option to purchase the plant in any Nevada dispensary. GTSO representatives were recently in Las Vegas for the 2014 Marijuana Business Conference & Expo scouting potential partnerships and opportunities in Nevada. The states embracement of reciprocity makes doing business there all the more intriguing. The introduction of reciprocity in Nevada has the potential to produce numerous new revenue streams , GTSO CEO Wallace W. Browne said. We had many intriguing discussions earlier this month at the Expo in Las Vegas and believe that GTSO-partnered products and processes will soon have a presence in Nevada. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://finance.yahoo.com/news/gtso-nevada-legislation-offers-exciting-100000306.html

(Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo) Kevin Green Raid hits Longview synthetic pot sellers Jeremy Tidwell stands in handcuffs before being driven off as officers of multiple law enforcement agencies raid The Glass Dragon Wednesday, December 3, 2014, on Texas 149 in Lakeport. (Kevin Green/News-Journal Photo) Kevin Green Raid hits Longview synthetic pot sellers Shanna Tidwell is escorted in handcuffs as officers of multiple law enforcement agencies raid The Glass Dragon Wednesday, December 3, 2014, on Texas 149 in Lakeport. (Kevin Green/News-Journal Photo) Raid hits Longview stores that sell synthetic drug; owners arrested By Phil Latham platham@news-journal.com Longview News-Journal The owners of three Longview businesses that sold synthetic marijuana were arrested Wednesday in a raid that included dozens of officers from three federal and eight local law enforcement agencies U.S. Attorney John M. Bales said at a Wednesday news conference that two Glass Dragon stores and the Longview Vapor Store sold synthetic pot also known as potpourri, incense or spice in violation of federal drug enforcement laws. The businesses are on Estes Parkway, Pine Tree Road and Fredonia Street, respectively. Store owners Jeremy Chad Tidwell and Shanna Peek Tidwell, who are husband and wife, were arrested in Longview, and Brian Tidwell, Jeremys brother, was arrested in Arlington. Jeremy and Shanna Tidwell exited the Glass Dragon Superstore on Estes Parkway wearing hooded jackets the husband used to hide his face, often walking backwards so he could not be photographed. All three were named in a sealed indictment by a federal grand jury Nov. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.news-journal.com/news/police/raid-hits-longview-stores-that-sell-k-owners-arrested/article_6ede7edf-9000-55c3-b8d6-cd5f4d41d342.html